Opinion: “Buhari, let’s start with health insurance for the poor”

By Kichime Goyang Gotau (FCILG USA)

A Post-Covid Nigeria is a harder economy – rising insecurity puts agriculture, mining and local businesses in jeopardy. A post-Covid Nigeria puts basic needs far above the reach of the average poor!

The poor – mostly non-civil servants are those without health insurance; without a living minimum wage. Despite being an average family of 5 to 6 members, many of them earn a dwindling N18,000 to N25,000 a month.

Mr. President, is it true that criminality is waxing stronger because the poor have remained poorer for long? Yes! Over 60years of unproductive independence built the cancerous poverty in our country!

Yes, stakeholders – men and women fueled Nigeria’s poverty via the culture of political mischief and economic hydra-headedness cum waste bazaar. Institutions that should support livelihoods such as religious bodies ignore that responsibility and metamorphosed into a capitalist extension, serving the needs of its ruthless elite clerics.

Sir, think through this – How does a family of five rely on N30,000 as monthly earning, an average of less than a thousand daily? Across Nigeria, many artisans dont make N20,000 a month. But why am I not asking rich religious institutions to change? A credible government can rescue its populace from the hypnotic clutches of any institution, Mr. President.

Why am I not telling Nigerians to Change and be nationalistic and corruption-free or civil servants to stop abuse of office? Why don’t I tell the Lecturer or teacher sexually and financially exploiting school children to stop? The private employer who commits atrocious crimes against labourers also needs attention but why can’t I stop them?

Mr. President, the one solution to these myriads of problems is welfare, security and good governance which you swore to provide. You can stop the high cost of governance, rescue rural and urban poor by improving and supporting livelihoods!

With adequate security and increased wages, the goal of education for all will be achieved, thus reducing dependency, which breeds the poverty aiding current national insecurity.

Sir, You can stop the corruption-ridden civil service and solve most, if not all of Nigeria’s predicaments, and leave enduring legacies behind.

Just recently, the Germans bid farewell to Angela Merkel with six minutes of warm applause, on the streets, balconies, windows, the whole country applauded for 6 minutes – a testament of her exceptional leadership.

The Germans elected her to lead them, and she led 80 million Germans for 18 years with dedication and integrity. She did not boast, and did not appear in the alleys of Berlin to be photographed. She was dubbed ” The Lady of the World ” and who was described as the equivalent of six million men.

During these eighteen years of her leadership of the authority in her country, no transgressions were recorded against her. She did not assign any of her relatives to a government post. She did not claim that she was the maker of glories .. She did not get millions in payment, neither did anyone cheer her performance. She did not receive charters and pledges!

Just yesterday, Merkel left the party leadership position and handed it over to those after her, and Germany and its people are in the best condition ever.

The reaction of the Germans was unprecedented in the history of the country. The entire population went out to their balconies of their houses and clapped for her spontaneously for 6 continuous minutes – a standing ovation nationwide.

Germany stood as one body bidding farewell to its leader, a chemical physicist who was not tempted by the fashion or the lights, and did not buy estates, cars, yachts and private airplanes, knowing that she is from former East Germany.

She left her post, with Germany at the top. She left and her relatives did not claim advantage. Eighteen years and she never changed her wardrobe.

At a press conference, a female journalist asked Merkel: We notice that you’re wearing the same suit, dont you have any other? She replied: “I am a government employee and not a model.”

At another press conference, one asked: Do you have housemaids who clean your house, prepare your meals and so on? Her answer was: “No, I do not have servants and I do not need them. _My husband and I do these chores.”

Merkel, the now former Chancellor of Germany, made and sustained her country as largest economy in Europe.

The elite of my country Nigeria don’t care, like pigs, they are insatiable, consuming everything on their path including the future of unborn children.

Mr. President, Nigerian can be better again and you can start with health insurance for the poor.

This piece was sent by Kichime Goyang Gotau (FCILG USA). All the views expressed here belong to the author, who can be reached on get2kich@gmail.com.